Santa Maria Capua Vetere to Benevento: Searching for Spartacus

This morning we visited the Amphitheatre in Santa Maria Capua Vetere.  Not only is this an impressive ruin, but it is also where Spartacus trained and launched his rebellion.

 We have followed the Appian way from Rome to Capua. After their defeat in 71 B.C., 6000 of the rebel slaves were crucified, lining the entire distance along the Appian way between Rome and Capua.

When I asked the lady at the ticket booth where to find Signore Spartucus she smiled and gestured towards the amphitheatre, so I began my search there.

Later catching a glimpse of him in the hypogeum (the area under the floor) I was able to capture a fleeting picture.  On seeing the image, Gordon’s only comment was “kind of scrawny looking, no wonder he was defeated”